Police: Hazel Park boy, 9, hid from gunmen

A 9-year-old boy helped Hazel Park police catch two armed-robbery suspects after police say the men broke into his home and forced his parents to lie on the kitchen floor at gunpoint.

"He was a brave young man," said Hazel Park Police Chief Martin Barner.

The boy hid in a bedroom closet as police say the suspects robbed his parents and ransacked the house about 9:15 p.m. Sunday in the 1200 block of East Muir.

"From the closet he saw the suspects grabbing property and loading it into a bag," Barner said. "When the suspects left the room, he climbed out a window and ran to a neighbor's house to call police."

The suspects -- Clarence Wilson Jr., 34, of Clinton Township and Monte Rowe, 22, of Detroit -- were arraigned Tuesday before Hazel Park 43rd District Magistrate James Paterson on charges of armed robbery, home invasion and multiple felony firearm charges. They are both jailed without bond.

Officers were able to arrive at the house and surround it before the suspects fled. Ferndale and Madison Heights police officers assisted Hazel Park police.

No one answered the door when police knocked and they forced their way into the home when they heard a scream from inside.

Officers found the boy's mother and father lying on the kitchen floor, their heads covered with a blanket, Barner said.

One suspect was found inside the house and arrested. The other was caught as he was trying to jump out a window at the back of the house, police said.

Police said they recovered a .22-caliber revolver the men used and items stolen from the parents, including a wallet, debit card, a small amount of cash and keys.

One of the suspects had been at the house shortly before the robbery and knocked on the door, Barner said, possibly to check whether anyone was home. The suspect spoke only briefly when one of the parents answered the door and left, police said.

"The suspect then returned a couple of minutes later with the second suspect and they forced their way into the home," Barner said. "We were fortunate the boy was able to escape. These situations at times have a tendency to escalate into more heinous acts."

The suspects are scheduled for a pre-exam conference in Hazel Park District Court at 1 p.m. May 7.